The Ganges is a lifeline to hundreds of millions Indians who live along its course and depend on it for their daily needs. No wonder it is worshipped, as a goddess, and the most sacred river by Hindus. Pilgrims and saddhus flock to one of its sources, the Alakananda river in the Himalayan town of Badrinath in Uttarakand state.
Rishikesh is another city of pilgrimage, where the Ganges emerges from the Himalayan passes to starts its journey towards the overpopulated Gangic plains. The city was made famous by the Beatles who stayed in the ashram of Maharishi Yogi. Today westerners in search of spirituality...